Breath odor

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Treatment

Breath odor

Definition:

Breath odor is unpleasant, distinctive, or offensive.

Alternative Names:
Bad breath; Halitosis
Considerations:

Some disorders will produce specific, characteristic odors to the breath.

A fruity odor to the breath occurs as the body attempts to get rid of excess acetone through the breathing. This is a characteristic sign of ketoacidosis, which may occur in diabetes, and is a potentially life-threatening condition.

text continues below

A fecal odor to the breath (the breath smells like feces) can occur with prolonged vomiting, especially when there is a bowel obstruction. It may also occur temporarily if a person has a nasogastric tube (a tube placed through the nose or mouth to the stomach to drain the stomach contents) in place.

The breath may have an ammonia-like odor (also described as urine-like or "fishy") in people with chronic kidney failure.

Common Causes:

If previously normal breath turns into halitosis, causes could include:

Food or beverages consumed (such as cabbage, garlic, raw onions, or coffee)
Vitamin supplements (especially in large doses)
Poor dental hygiene
Dentures
Cavities
Tobacco smoking
Alcoholism
Throat infection
Sinusitis
Lung infection
Gum disease (gingivitis, gingivostomatitis)
Abscessed tooth
Impacted tooth
Foreign body in the nose (usually in children)
- Often (but not always) there is a white, yellowish, or bloody discharge from one nostril
Drugs
- Paraldehyde
- Triamterene and inhaled anesthetics
- Insulin - injection